A 12th century castle once stood on the site of Palais du Louvre, but was demolished in the 16th century to make way for a grand royal palace. The palace was expanded over time to become what we know today as le Louvre, one of the most famous royal palaces in the world. In the 17th century, King Louis XIV transferred the royal residence to Versailles, but it wasn't until after the French Revolution that the Louvre was turned into a museum. One of the palace's latest expansions joined it with Palais des Tuileries, which connected the two western ends of the Louvre. During the riots of 1870, Palais des Tuileries burnt down and was never reconstructed. Its demolition opened the main courtyard of the Louvre to Jardin des Tuileries and l'Axe Historique running through les Champs-Elysées.

The Louvre today is arguably the world's best museum, containing the most famous Mona-Lisa, among other works of art. It is quite overwhelming and takes numerous visits to see it in its entirety. For the first time visitor, a quick visit of the main attractions is recommended, followed by a visit focused on a specific section.